Jan 7/8 - the circuit

Around and around we go.  Where did I leave off ...

We went to Hamilton and picked up Sandy's passport and returned to Stef's for the night.  The roads south of Parry Sound were closed so there was no possibility of heading back north that night ... oh yes, the car was ready, good news, and we picked that up before getting to Stef's and turned in the Cruz.  It had served us well but I won't be buying one !

I was awake early, like 1:30 a.m. but didn't want to leave then.  Checking online, the roads were open but vis was poor and there was a huge patch of snow hovering over Parry Sound that had been there for some time.  Highway 11 looked like a better bet, so that was my plan.

I got another hour's sleep and left around 4am.  It took almost 5 hours to get back to the cottage via 11 and 522.  For hours I was the only car on the road.

More time ... it took almost two hours to get squared away at the cottage, packing up, closing up and changing to the all-season tires vs the snows.  In the meantime, I'd talked to Sandy and Bonnie re the road conditions and decided to head back via the 400.

The day before had been a disaster or a memorable event, depending on your point of view.  With the 400 closed south of Parry Sound, many many travelers were stranded there.  All the hotels were full and the town put people up in the churches and the Bobby Orr center, feeding them etc.

We had gotten through Parry Sound just before the roads were closed.  Lucky us !

I think that due to the problems the day before and the snow still hovering over the area, most people opted not to travel that way assuming that the roads might be closed again.  I hardly even saw any trucks.

I made it back to Stef's in reasonable time -- 3 hours vs the normal 2.5 -- and we quickly loaded up and headed out.  We made it to Erie PA last night and we're just about to head south.  Eventually it will be warm.

Onward !